Blue Zones Project Marion, Update to Linn Mar, January 2016
Linn Mar High School hosted the community kick off on April 15, 2014. The Blue Zones Project Marion team appreciated the involvement from students, faculty and support staff to make the over 800 attendees feel welcome.
Novak Elementary was the first school designated in Marion. Ms. Hubler became a great resource for the other buildings on what had been done at the building including the formation of a building wellness council that has representation from all grade levels and numerous support areas.
The first community Walking School Bus began at Novak in the spring of 2014. This was a trial to set up a more regular route come fall. We learned that most students participate in a morning route as opposed to an after school route. In fall of 2014 we launched the route again at Novak and a new route at Indian Creek. Both routes averaged around a dozen students. A coordinator was established for each building which is essential in the continuation of Walking School Bus programs. The volunteer coordinator is the organizer for the building and communicator to the other parents.
With a quick timeframe to meet our community certification and all of the elementary buildings working toward designation we brought all of the building coordinators together for an afternoon to work together on the needed documentation for designation. By April of 2015 all but one school had reached designation status.
Designated buildings
Bowman Woods
Echo Hill
Indian Creek
Linn Grove
Novak
Wilkins
In the winter of 2015 Novak and Wilkins began herb gardens. In the spring of 2015 there were outdoor gardens at Echo Hill, Novak and Linn Grove. In December of 2015 Bowman Woods built four raised bed gardens that will be tended by the 4th grade classes who will also use this to classroom activities.
School Gardens
Bowman Woods
Novak
Echo Hill
Linn Grove
The community celebrated Blue Zones Certification in September 2015. Work continues on the community Blueprint which lays out milestones and metrics through July of 2016. The sustainability phase begins in February of 2016. The community will continue to have a staff member to assist with school, worksite and restaurant designations as well as community events, community policy and additional built environment projects.
Novak is currently working on worksite designation status.